McIlroy is without a major title in 10 years (
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McIlroy further expressed deep concern before the Masters that the ongoing rift between LIV and the PGA Tour is not only impacting golf’s overall viewership but also diminishing interest in the sport and its major championships. This is especially true when considering the implications of LIV golfers not being eligible to earn Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) points, which is crucial for major invites and Olympic participation.
McIlroy was particularly interested in the numbers following Scottie Scheffler’s second career victory at the Masters. Scheffler has not shot over par in any round since Aug 26, during the third round of the Tour Championship.
McIlroy dramatically shifted his stance towards LIV after criticising the league for more than a year. Speculation arose about McIlroy potentially joining LIV on an $850million (£623m) deal, but his manager Sean O’Flaherty has denied such reports.
McIlroy regretted his initial approach towards LIV and admitted to judging players who joined. Early adopters of LIV included Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia, with Mickelson reportedly receiving $200m (£160.9m) just for participation.
